Apparatus for distributing cigarettes from containers



J. NEFF Dec. 1, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CIGARETTES FROM CONTAINERS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1931 Dec. 1,1931. NEF 1,834,723

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CIGARETTES FROM CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHANNES NEFF, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY,- ASSIGNOR TO FIR-M UNIVERSELLE CIGARETTENMASCHINEN-FABRIK J. C. MULLER 8c 00., 0F DBESDEN, GERMANY APPARATUS non nisrnrnurnve crennnrrns rnoivr CONTAINERS Application filed January 13, 1931, Serial No. $0 8,448, and in Germany May 7, 1930.

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding cigarettes and is an improvementin or modification of that described in my prior application for patent Serial No. 449,823.

In. the apparatus described in my said prior application for patent it may happen that after relative displacement of the slot-ted slides, cigarettes may remain suspended in the openings causing interference withthe satisfactory operation of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention projections suitably actuated extend from above into the openings in the slotted slides when. open for the purpose of pushing any cigarettes remaining suspended through the openings in the feeding device.

The invention is illustrated in the accoinpanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view while Figs. 3 and 4 show the apparatus in cross section with the plunger in two different positions.

Referring to the drawings, of the cigarettes passed in known manner from the hopper shaped container 1 into the vertical pockets 2 the lowermost cigarette in each pocket is ejected by the plunger 3 in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2. The plungers 3 are jointed on a plate 4 with which a lever 6 is connected by means of a link 5. The lever 6 turns about the pivot 7. To the lever 6 is also connected at 8 a connecting rod 9 which is connected at its opposite end with the crank pin 10 on the crank disc 11. The cigarettes ejected by the plungers are guided between the tines 12 of a plate 12 which is secured to the frame 13. Beneath the tined plate 12, 12 is provided a frame 14 which is movable on guide bars 15.

As soon as the cigarettes are deposited between the tines the frame is displaced in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2, so that the rods 14 on the frame come into position beneath the tines 12. Suitably the openings in the frame are somewhat wider than this distance between the tinesso that the cigarettes can pass downwards freely on to the pocket chain 16 beneath it. The frame 14 is moreover actuated in such manner that the-cigarettes are delivered to the continuously moving pocket chain when the separate pockets of the chain have come into the proper'position in relation to the openings.

In order to avoid disturbance in operation due to any retention of the cigarettes between the tines or in the gaps in the plate 14 there is provided over the tines 12 a plunger 17 on whichare provided projections 17 which on the downward movement thereof pass between the tines and push downwards any cigarettes retained. The plunger 17 with its guides 17 is mounted on lugs 18 in the arm 19 which pivots about the pivot 21 on the slide-20. To the slide 20 which is movable vertically on the rod 22 there is connected by a link 29 an actuating lever 23, 23 pivoting about 24. The arm 23 of the lever is fitted with a roller 25 which tracks a cam 26. In order to permit of displacement of the plunger with respect to the arm 19 the spindles 17 are provided with adjusting nuts 27, springs 26 ensuring the pressure of the nuts 27 against the arm 19.

The slide 20 is operated in such manner that the projections 17 on the plunger 17 pass between the tines 12 as soon as the slots in the frame 14 have been brought into register with the gaps between the tines.

In order rapidly to cure any defect occurring in operation there is provided on the from a container comprising partitions within said container forming separate feed channels for the cigarettes, said channels closed at their lower ends but having lateral openings, plungers acting to eject the cigarettes in said feed channels through said lateral openings, an intermittently actuated slotted feed mechanism, a moving conveyor beneath said feed mechanism, said intermittently actuated feed mechanism serving in one position to receive the cigarettes ejected and in another position to deliver them to the moving conveyor and plungers serving to enter the feed mechanism and positively to eject the cigarettes therefrom.

2. Apparatus for distributing cigarettes from a container comprising partitions Within said container forming separate feed channels for the cigarettes, said channels closed at their lower ends but provided With lateral openings, plungers acting to eject the cigarettes in said feed channels through said lateral openings, an intermittently actuated slotted feed'rnechani'sm, said feed mechanism consisting of an upper stationary plate said plate having parallel openings through which the cigarettes can pass and a reciprocating plate, said last mentioned plate having corresponding slots through which the cigarettes also can pass and a plurality of projections adapted to enter the openings in the stationary plate and eject the cigarettes through the slots in the reciprocating plate. 7 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOI-IANNES NEFF. 

